Imaginary Trend

An imaginary friend and his very real golden sticker!

Friends come in all shapes and sizes especially the imaginary kind. Now I never had an imaginary friend as a child, but I so desperately wanted one! The girl who lived down the block from me had a friend who I couldn't see and they were BFF's 4 EVA. They would talk, play, and go on adventures together. I, unfortunately, did not have this mystical friend that could step in whenever I was feeling lonely, but now I do not have to worry. This trend in children's books is not imaginary at all. Following the success of recent Caldecott winner Beekle by Dan Santat (and the not-so-imaginary tattoos the committee got to commemorate this) more and more imaginary friends will be appearing on our shelves this summer/fall.

We Forgot Brock! by Carter Goodrich has young Philip and his best bud Brock going to a big fair. At the end of the day when Philip gets home Brock is missing! What happens when a boy is separated from his imaginary friend? 

Pub date: August 25th

Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier as told to Michelle Cuevas is a middle grade novel from the imaginary friend's point of view. Being the imaginary one of the pair isn't as easy as it looks. Sometimes even someone who is invisible has to go on a journey to find who they truly are.

Pub date: September 8th

When times get tough old friends come back into our lives. Newbery award winning author Katherine Applegate dreams up a larger-than-life feline friend in Crenshaw.

Pub date: September 22nd

Irish wonder duo Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers come together for Imaginary Fred. Even though Fred is imaginary his bond with Sam isn't! Folks can form firm friendships with those of a fictional feature.

Pub date: September 29th